Boiler-lug.



M. M. HEDGES.

BOILER LUG. APPLICATION IILED NOV. 10, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT MERTLAND M. I-IEDGES, OF OHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE OASEY-HEDGES COMPANY, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

B OILE R-LUG.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERTLAND M. HEDGES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boiler- Lugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for supporting steam boilers, and particularly to that type of supporting devices commonly known as boiler lugs, in which the supporting device is rigidly connected to the boiler and rests upon a foundation.

An object of the invention is to provide means in a device of this character for compensating for the expansion of the boiler, not only in a direction along its main axis but also laterally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lug which will be simple and strong in construction and effective in operation.

The invention consists in the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, the section being on the line a w of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line y 3 of Fig. 2. F t is also a vertical section showing a slight modification.

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference in the several views.

I preferably form my lug from a simple plate of ductile material-such as wrought iron or steel. The portions a and b are bent at an angle thereto in the usual way, the portion, a, being extended upwardly and curved to conform to the contour of the boiler, to which it is rivete'd or otherwise secured. and the portion, 6, extended laterally therefrom. At the sides of both of the portions are formed integral strengthening ribs, 0 c U-shaped in cross-section, as shown.

In devices of this character it has been Specificationef Letters Patent.

Application filed November 10, 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

Serial No. 461,976.

common to place rollers under the lugs to compensate for the expansion of the boiler in a longitudinal direction, but these rollers will not allow for the radial or lateral expansion of the boiler, thus endangering the brick or other foundation upon which the lugs rest and also causing a very severe strain on the lugs themselves. To overcome this difficulty I have provided ball bearings for the lug which are free to move in any direction, longitudinally or laterally, the balls being represented by (Z in the drawings. Formed on the under side of the portion, Z), of the lug are a series of recesses, 6 to receive the balls; these recesses being struck up from the plate in forming the lug. Metallic plates, 6, are preferable provided between the lug and the foundation proper, f, and these plates, e, are preferably formed with recesses, 6 to receive the balls; the said recesses being of suflicient size to per mit of the movement of the balls to coinpensate for the expansion.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the device is shown equipped with four balls arranged in recesses near the four corners of the portion, 6.

In Fig. t but two balls are shown. The exact number of balls used is, of course, immaterial and would depend more or less upon the conditions of use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a boiler lug, a laterally projecting portion, and a plurality of supporting balls for said laterally-projecting portion, substantially as specified.

2. In a boiler lug, a laterally-projecting portion, a plurality of balls for supporting said laterally projecting portion, and a plurality of recesses in said portion to receive said balls, substantially as specified.

3. In a boiler lug, a portion conformed to the shape of a boiler for attachment thereto, a laterally projecting portion integrally connected therewith, integral side strengthening flanges connecting said portions, supporting balls for said laterally-projecting portion, and recesses in the same to receive said balls, substantially as specified.

4. In a boiler lug, a laterally projecting portion, supporting balls for the same, a base portion, and recesses in said base portion to receive said balls, substantially as specified;

5. In a boiler lug, a laterally-projecting portion, supporting balls for the same, recesses in said projecting portion to receive said balls, and a base portion also having recesses to receive said balls, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of October 1908.

MERTLAND M. HEDGES. Witnesses:

J. C. SHELToN, D. H. GRISWOLD. 

